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Step 1
Decide if you would like to go pier or deep sea fishing. You can find mackerel in both places. Decide which one you prefer or try both. Mackerel caught off piers are generally smaller than mackerel caught in deeper waters off the coast of New England. Wells Harbor, Maine offers great deep sea fishing for mackerel and as well as pier fishing.
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Step 2
Pick your equipment. Most people fishing for mackerel in New England prefer to use a medium spinning rod. The use of 15-pound monofilament line is a good choice, though some may go for lighter options. When fishing from a boat, consider a mackerel tree. Use this while trolling.
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Step 3
Get bait. Mackerel will eat anything smaller than themselves. Using live bait or trolling with cut up bait is best. Some New England anglers have found that using mackerel for bait for other mackerel works well.
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Step 4
Prepare for a fight. Once a mackerel is hooked, it will put up a fight. They are a great recreational fish to catch and you may have a fish story to take home.
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Step 5
Take care of the mackerel promptly. You generally just have to gut mackerel to clean them because they have very small or no scales. Mackerel will spoil quickly, so it is best to get them on ice as soon as possible. They have a high oil content that will go rancid and spoil the meat.
